Best Glamping in New Mexico

From the vast Chihuahuan Desert to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico has a wealth of opportunities to get outside and explore. For outdoor adventurers, there’s skiing in Taos, whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande, and plenty of hiking, from the Southern Rockies to dusty desert canyons. That’s what makes camping in New Mexico such a varied and fulfilling experience.

Carlsbad Caverns provides ample opportunities to hike, explore, learn about desert wildlife, even appreciate a few thousand Mexican free-tail bats take flight. They swarm out of the cave every night at dust for an audience that often numbers in the hundreds. It’s a perfect excuse to stick around the park after dark and do some camping in New Mexico.

Of course, the only camping available within Carlsbad Caverns National Park is backcountry camping, so come prepared to Leave No Trace. Keep in mind that the desert landscape is often dry, so fire bans, even some backcountry cooking bans, are frequently in effect in the drier months. On the upside, backcountry camping permits are free and you can grab one at the visitor center when you arrive.

Visit White Sands National Monument for an unmatched, natural experience. Acres upon acres of white gypsum dunes stretch into the distance, offering hours of diversion, be it hiking across the dunes or sledding down them. If you forgot your sled, don’t worry, you can pick one up in the gift shop. Just be sure to enjoy these activities early in the morning or late in the evening during the summer months; it gets hot in the desert during midday!

As for camping in White Sands, it’s backcountry camping or nothing and sites require a short hike through the dunes. You’ll be camping on the gypsum, surrounded by shifting white hills, dark night skies up above, and no other campers in sight. It’s definitely a unique experience. Permits are $3.00 per person and can be picked up at the visitor center.

Wherever your adventures take you in the Land of Enchantment, get out there and let The Dyrt help you locate the best camping in New Mexico.

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Best Glamping Sites in New Mexico (109)

    1. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground

    65 Reviews
    Sunspot, NM
    Website
    +1 (236) 682-6567

    $15 - $30 / night

    "I like heat and live in New Mexico.  Northern new Mexico, in the mountains, where no one needs air conditioning. "

    "The campground is located in the Oliver Lee State Park, with access on paved roads. There is a dump and water fill station at the entrance. Many sites have electric and water."

    2. Lea Lake Campground — Bottomless Lakes State Park

    67 Reviews
    Dexter, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 988-3638

    $10 - $35 / night

    "I bought a year pass during covid for New Mexico State park in 2019. I only used it 2 times and parks shut down. Now due to fires many parks have had to close."

    "Bottomless Lakes State Park is the most relaxing place that I have stayed thus far. It is very spacious and the campsite loops are quiet and clean."

    3. Las Cruces KOA

    55 Reviews
    Mesilla, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 526-6555

    "Fantastic views, friendly staff. Clean digs. Some improvements maybe for the camp kitchen. We stayed in the tent Cabin 2 and loved every minute of it. It was cold and it heated up quickly."

    "We stopped at this KOA for one night while passing through New Mexico.   We had a great view of the valley below and our site had everything we needed--full hookups."

    4. USA RV Park

    56 Reviews
    Mentmore, NM
    Website
    +1 (505) 863-5021

    $25 - $35 / night

    "We were so grateful to stumble upon USA RV Park on our recent trip through New Mexico. "

    "The staff member at the entry was very efficient, friendly, and informative. Our site was toward the back of the property- so we didn’t hear any road noise."

    5. Sunset Reef Campground

    42 Reviews
    Carlsbad Caverns, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 234-5972

    "The campground currently does not have any signage but if you turn down the road for the cottonwood day use area and make a right on the dirt road, you will find it."

    "Trash ca s and clean well stocked pit toilet also has tent camping. Fire pit, grill, and covered picnic table. Beautiful sunrise."

    6. Albuquerque KOA Journey

    46 Reviews
    Monticello, NM
    Website
    +1 (505) 296-2729

    "New Mexico is a land of wonders and beauty in every turn."

    "Staff was friendly. Past reviews mentioned that this KOA was in a terrible neighborhood, but it didn’t seem so bad to us and we had no incidents. CG is gated and staffed 24/7."

    7. Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    37 Reviews
    Placitas, NM
    Website
    +1 (505) 761-8700

    "Top of New Mexico" near Albuquerque is a fantastic camping spot if you love open spaces and beautiful desert views."

    "The road to drive up is through a neighborhood and is 2 miles of windy road it was a little hard to maneuver with my 32’ trailer I just had to go slow nothing crazy."

    8. Alamogordo / White Sands KOA

    37 Reviews
    Alamogordo, NM
    Website
    +1 (800) 562-3452

    "In direct contrast to the White Sands backcountry camping which offers absolutely zero thrills and access to luxuries, the White Sand KOA is a great place to stay for those wanting some of the comforts"

    "Bathroom ✅ Showers (small stalls) ✅ Laundry ✅ Store on site ✅ Nice privacy walls ✅

    It’s very close to white sands main gate. The staff was very friendly and the campground was clean and manacured."

    9. Carlsbad KOA

    39 Reviews
    Carlsbad, NM
    Website
    +1 (800) 562-9109

    "Great amenities: Spotless restrooms and showers, well stocked store with friendly staff, clean pool, fish pond with seating area, big sites with picnic table and fire ring, on-site restaurant with delicious"

    "We like having a bed to spread our sleeping bags out on sometimes, access to AC after a hot day of exploration and the kids like a chance to 'plug in' while we are unplugged...."

    10. Carlsbad RV Park & Campground

    35 Reviews
    Carlsbad, NM
    Website
    +1 (575) 885-6333

    "It is gated, has friendly staff, two cabins, tent spaces, a store, super clean and nice bathrooms/showers, laundry facility and pool."

    "A very nice campground with brand new bath houses. Nice laundry facilities. Gift store with ice cream, yes. Very convenient to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and to Carlsbad, New Mexico."

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Glamping Reviews in New Mexico

1222 Reviews of 109 New Mexico Campgrounds


  • Jeff V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 3, 2025

    Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground

    Not for the 4th of July, unless you just escaped Hell

    Oddly this popped up in my feed as a late 4th of July choice.  Good God, no.  I like heat and live in New Mexico.  Northern new Mexico, in the mountains, where no one needs air conditioning. 

    Cooler times of the year, like mid-winter, I do recommend the area, particularly Dog Canyon, a great winter or early spring hike. 

    But for mid-summer?  No, unless you're an infernal demon it's a bit warm those months.

  • d
    Jun. 27, 2022

    Carlsbad RV Park & Campground

    In town RV spot

    This RV spot is right in town on the Main Street. It is gated, has friendly staff, two cabins, tent spaces, a store, super clean and nice bathrooms/showers, laundry facility and pool.

    This is not typical wooded or beautiful camping, it’s a place to park your RV or tent and that is just about right. If you are making a quick stop over or heading to Carlsbad Caverns then what more do you need?

    We stayed in the cabin because we didn’t want to get all our camping stuff out for a quick overnight before we head to our destination (SW CO). It was only $15 more than tent camping so it made sense. It was also raining hard when we got here so we were double grateful. The cabins have a double bed and a bunk bed. It has a TV that we never turned on, a fridge, microwave and AC. The mattresses are like the ones you find at camp, wrapped in plastic but we just put our bedding and memory foam on top of it and it was just fine. I’d recommend it because it was just what we needed on our way and at a good price. Also the shower/ bathrooms are probably the nicest I’ve ever seen at a campground.

  • T
    Jan. 23, 2018

    Santa Fe KOA

    Romantic Tent for Two Please

    My husband had the great idea of tent camping just the two of us. Up to this point our tent camping adventures were reserved for grandbaby time. But I said What the hey! Let's do it. I wanted somewhere cooler than home. The Santa Fe area had plenty to keep us busy for the week.

    We did not get a tent spot but opted for a small trailer site with electric and water. Our spot was near the bathhouse but not too close. Each site has native trees and plants, so everyone has privacy. The site had a nice flat spot for the tent, picnic table, fire pit and grill. We had more than enough room to set up our awning for a dining area. We loved our little spot for the week.

    The bathhouse was clean and very nice. New tile and fixtures. It was a little small for the size of the campground.

    They have plenty of activities there for everyone and in the evening it is very quiet.

  • Susan F.
    Dec. 23, 2021

    Las Cruces KOA

    Fantastic scenic spot

    Fantastic views, friendly staff. Clean digs. Some improvements maybe for the camp kitchen. We stayed in the tent Cabin 2 and loved every minute of it. It was cold and it heated up quickly. Everything we needed for a nice stay and the bed was comfy.

  • D
    Jul. 14, 2023

    Capulin RV Park

    Nice park, small, but convenient to Capulin Volcano

    Capulin RV Park is a pretty nice private RV park across the highway from the Capulin Volcano National Monument entrance road. We stayed one night. Some of the sites are shady. The park streets and sites are crushed limestone. The park was clean and quiet. The sites are very close together; fortunately, it was not full and we had room. Restrooms and showers were clean (did not use shower). Amenities include: common fire ring with seating and view of volcano, swing with view of volcano.

    Stayed in pull-thru campsite #25 which had evening shade and level. It was a crushed limestone site. There was barely enough parking for my 34 ft TT. Neighbors are VERY close. Utilities: 20/30/50A electric in middle of site. Water in middle of site, good pressure. Sewer in middle of site with 4-in screw-on fitting.

    AT&T had two bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 36.6 Mbps down, 7.5 Mbps up. Free WiFi is available, but did not use it.

    The town of Capulin, NM is very small. The closest restaurant is The Sierra Grande Restaurant in Des Moines, NM, which is open year round for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Other restaurants and fast food are available in Raton and Clayton.

    Would stay here again.

  • Amy B.
    Jun. 11, 2022

    Sunset Reef Campground

    Hidden campground

    The campground currently does not have any signage but if you turn down the road for the cottonwood day use area and make a right on the dirt road, you will find it. Each tent site has a covered table on a cement slab, charcoal grill, and fire ring. There are also pull through spaces for RVs. There is a bathroom that was clean except for all of the flies from the toilet seat and door being left open. A great space in the middle of the desert!

  • Michael M.
    Aug. 30, 2017

    Coal Mine Campground

    Great for a weary traveler

    Visited the coal mine campground after driving a 500 mile day, so it was a set-up eat and crash situation. I did make a reservation on line, but that cost more than the $5 per site fee and was not necessary even though it was memorial day weekend. The fee is great because it is primitive, no electricity, no water at all, not just hookups, but the bathrooms were nice and clean with no sinks.

    If you are prepared for a primitive camp with your own water and batteries for your electronics it is great. They have fire rings, grills, picnic tables and level places for tents.There are also nice back-in sites for boondocking RVs and the road up to the campground is fine for big rigs.

    I ran into two mountain biker's here from Ireland that were riding the Continental Divide trail from The Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Montana. They were staying here since the Trail goes through here. Paddy & Conner were very interesting people and I was fortunate to have run into them here.

    I enjoyed my stay with a peaceful quite nights sleep and a short hike in the morning before breakfast cooked on the campfire. I would recommend this over a hotel stay if your passing through Grant's New Mexico on I40. You can probably get a site for the night anytime your passing through.

  • S
    May. 27, 2019

    The Camp @ Cloudcroft RV Park

    They think of everything!

    We love Royce and the Camp @ Cloudcroft. We started out coming here NYE. We stayed in the teardrop camper — so cold outside but the teardrop was warm and cozy. Since then we’ve been back several times! They have new beautifully renovated shower houses. They have a Yurt with all you could ever think of as well as a pop up trailer (amazing king size bed). When you rent these, you basically can come with clothes and food. They think of everything else from utensils, grills, stoves, linens, seasonings ... even a deck of cards! There’s WiFi throughout the campground. They also have RV spaces and tent areas. Super super nice staff (Sissy and her pup Mickey). Can’t recommend this place enough and we can’t wait to get back to our home away from home!!

  • Naythin H.
    Jun. 17, 2021

    The Camp @ Cloudcroft RV Park

    Amazing

    I had I great time including my family the place was so nice everyone there was respectful and friendly I slept in the wall tent and omg it was so warm we went when it got down to 32 degrees so it was nice for the heater and heated blankets they also had a nice creek with trees and trees by far the best for a weekend nights .